This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas
http://dolearchives.ku.edu
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WASHINGTON , DC 20510
December 10, 1993
The President
The White House
Washingto n, D.C.
20500
Dear Mr. President :
The recent abduction and murder of 12-year old Polly Klaas
and this week's horrifying massacre on the Long Island Railroad
commuter train serve to underscor e what all Americans know all
too well: that anyone can be a victim and that no one is safe
from the scourge of violent crime.
As you know, Senate Republica ns and Democrats were able to
put aside their partisan differenc es and pass perhaps the
toughest anticrime bill ever considered by Congress. The next
step in the legislativ e process is a joint Senate-Ho use
conferenc e to sort out the difference s between the Senate bill
and several weaker bills recently passed by the House of
Represen tatives.
It
At this time, the American people need your leadershi p.
ensure
to
ice
off
your
is crucial that you use the resources of
that the Senate-Ho use conferenc e committee embraces the
provision s contained in the Senate-pa ssed anticrime bill,
including :
* a truth-in-s entencing proposal that will help slam shut
the revolving prison door by requiring that violent
criminals serve at least 85% of their prison sentences ;
*
the construct ion of ten new regional prisons to which
states can send their most violent criminals ;
*
tough mandatory minimum penalties for those who use
carry a gun in the commissio n of a crime, including
years for carrying a · gun, 20 years if the gun is
discharge d, and life imprisonm ent without parole or
death penalty, if the crime results in the death of
innocent victim;
or
10
the
an
* a new anti-gang statute that will enable federal
prosecuto rs to root out violent gang activity;
*
the death penalty for drug kingpins;
* a ''troops-to -cops" program that will enable members of the
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This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas
http://dolearchives.ku.edu
Armed Forces to continue their service to America through
1
community policing on state and local police forces;
* a "three-time loser" provision that imposes life
imprisonment without parole for anyone convicted in
federal court of a third violent crime; and
* a series of important measures designed to combat
domestic and street violence against women, including the
creation of three new Federal Rules of Evidence allowing
for the admissibility of past sex offenses in sexual
assault and child molestation cases.
Mr. President, these proposals can make a real difference in
the war against crime. They deserve your unqualified and public
support.
Indeed, if truth-in-sentencing were a reality today,
Polly Klaas would still have a childhood and a future: press
reports indicate that her alleged murderer was a twice-convicted
kidnapper who was paroled after serving just eight years of a 16year sentence.
In addition, we hope you would join us in resurrecting at
least two provisions that were passed by the Senate but dropped
from the final version of the Brady Bill. The first provision
addresses the real problem of preventing those who have been
adjudicated "mentally incompetent" from purchasing or possessing
a firearm. As we understand your statement at the Brady Bill
signing, a friend ' of yours who sold a firearm to someone released
from a mental institution would have been alerted under this
provision.
The second provision imposes strict mandatory minimum
sentences on the most premeditated violent offenders in society-those who commit armed robberies of gun stores.
Finally, it is imperative that the national computerized
background check be started as soon as possible. While local
authorities will no doubt do their best to review the backgrounds
of potential purchasers of firearms during the waiting period,
the bottom line is that the American people will not receive the
protection they deserve until we have in place a nationwide
database that includes the names of felons, illegal aliens, those
dishonorably discharged from the military, and those adjudicated
mentally incompetent.
And, Mr. President, the precursor of this database exists
today:
It contains the names of over 18 million subjects.
Obviously, the files from the Immigration and Naturalization
Service and the Department of Defense could be quickly and easily
added. The real waiting period is the period between today and
the day on which we investigate the backgrounds of everyone
attempting to purchase a firearm--whether it be a handgun or a
long gun.
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s-press_037_005_006.pdf
s-press_037_005_006_A1b.pdf
This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas
http://dolearchives.ku.edu
The American
Needless to say, the time for action is now.
people deserve the toughest anticrime bill possible, not a
watered-down version or "Crime Bill Lite," as some Members of
Congress would prefer. A public statement by you endorsing the
proposals outlined in this letter would make a big difference as
the Senate-House conference committee begins its deliberations.
Thank you for your consideration of this request. We look
forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenienoe.
Sincerely 1
<6~5:rL
BOB DOLE
BD/ds
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